Azabache was jailed on $50,000 bail and ordered not to contact the student as well as his fiancee and two of her family members because they were "witnesses to events after the fact," according to the judge.

Azabache has been reassigned from teaching and barred from school grounds pending the outcome of the case, according to a statement from the school district. He had no prior criminal record.

Students at the school said Azabache was well-liked and were stunned by the allegations.

"I never thought that he would do something like that," said one student.

"It's really the biggest mistake a teacher can do. He's going to lose all the respect he had from all the kids."

His lawyer Tony Castro told reporters his client has a "stellar record as a schoolteacher," adding, "I just want to note that what he’s being charged with does not involve any forceable compulsion. It involves an alleged incident with a minor, someone who is just under 17 years old.”

Asked about the wedding, Castro said, “I assumed it was called off. Frankly, that is nothing I discussed with him.”